SWS: Stockton: Round five preview

NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series Drivers Look Back While
Looking Ahead to Stockton 99 Speedway
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2004) -- For 59 years Stockton 99 Speedway has
been a fixture in the motorsports scene on the West...

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (April 30, 2004) -- For 59 years Stockton 99 Speedway has
been a fixture in the motorsports scene on the West coast and Saturday, May
8, the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division, Southwest Series returns for the 21st
time since 1986 in the running of the Budweiser "125" presented by Havoline.

Stockton 99 Speedway was a mainstay in the series' early years running two
events per season from 1986 to 1993. The series made single visits to the
quarter-mile oval from 1994 to 1996 but then was absent from the track's
schedule until 2002 when local hero Ron Strmiska Jr. stole the show as the
AutoZone Southwest Series returned to one of the West's oldest continually
operated racing facilities.

Stockton 99 Speedway is a track the favors experience and series point's
leader, Jim Pettit II of Prunedale, Calif. has logged more laps than any
series regular on the tight and tricky quarter-mile paved oval. More than
thirty drivers from the Southwest Series will attempt to qualify for one of
22 starting positions in Saturday's 125-lap race and vie for their share of
$44,894 in posted awards in race five of the 14-race championship series.

The tight confines of Stockton 99 Speedway's quarter-mile means there is
action around every corner almost from the drop of the green flag. Pettit
claimed his first career victory in last year's event and looks forward to
another perfect homecoming.

"Stockton is a special place for me," said Pettit. "The track creates a lot
of passing opportunities. You have to know the characteristics of the track
and how to use them to your own advantage. When the sun goes down and the
crowd gets into it, this place is electric."

Ron Strmiska, the 2002 winner from Manteca, Calif. knows that qualifying
will be tough, especially for the local guys. "I have been going to Stockton
for 30 years," Strmiska said. "I started out as a crew chief for my dad,
then later started driving, and all the experience in the world will not
mean a thing if you don't qualify. The local guys will race well, but it is
qualifying that is going to make the difference."

Last year Dan Holtz from Pacific Palisades, Calif. survived an action-packed
125-lap shootout to finish ninth and has gained confidence over the past
year when it comes to the "bullrings".

"When I started in the series I thought I had it all figured out," Holtz
said. "I quickly realized I knew nothing. Guys like Craig Raudman, M.K.
Kanke, and Bob Lyon have been running this series for a long time and they
had a ton of notes on tracks like Stockton. I figured I needed help and
looked no further then Jim Pettit. Jim has helped me with the set up and
understanding the track. I tested really well and I owe a lot to Jim for all
his advice and information."

Raudman, of Bakersfield, Calif., finished last in last season's event and
would like nothing more then to make that nightmare go away. Raudman last
won at Stockton back in 1996 and likes racing on the tight and tricky ovals.
"Stockton is a blast to drive," Raudman said. "There is a line around that
place and if you're on it, then you are going to be fast. The entry into
turn three is the most important. If you get a good run on a guy into three,
then you'll make the pass out of turn four."

"The local guys are always hard to beat at a place like Stockton," Raudman
said. "They have a lot of laps around that place, especially Jim Pettit, and
that will make it tough for the rest of us."

Former (2002) Southwest Series champion Eddy McKean from Jerome, Idaho likes
his chances at Stockton. "We are getting considerably better on tracks like
Stockton," McKean said. "Qualifying is going to be important, because
starting in the back there is no picnic."

Other notable drivers that have experience at Stockton include Doug McCoun
of Prunedale, Calif. Escalon, California's Eric Holmes who sits seventh in
the series standings has had success on the historic oval, and series
Ironman Bob Lyon from Aqua Dulce, Calif. who has returned to form in 2004
and is poised for a return to the winner's circle.

The Budweiser "125" presented by Havoline is set to take the green flag at
9:00 pm PST Saturday, May 8 where the action is never far away.

How many cars? More than 30 cars have pre-entered the Budweiser "125" with
several hometown heroes from the Stockton area. Drivers include Phil Perry,
Tracy Bolin, and Jason Fensler. Series regulars Doug McCoun, Eric Holmes,
and Jim Pettit II are also familiar names at Stockton. ... Auggie Vidovich
Jr., the 2003 AutoZone Southwest Series champion will not defend his title
in 2004, running only a partial schedule.

Drivers to keep your eye on: Joe Herold from Poway, Calif. Herold had a
career best finish of second at Cajon Speedway on April 3 and has vaulted
into 5th place in the point standings. Herold is in his fourth year on the
Southwest Series. -- Raudman is tied with Kanke, with 27 career Bud Pole
Awards. Raudman already has two poles this season and looks to break the
record at Stockton. -- In 2004, drivers will once again be competing for an
invitation to the NASCAR Toyota All-Star Showdown November 11-13 at
Irwindale (Calif.) Speedway. This invitational only event is for drivers who
finish the season in the top ten in the final point standings in each of the
four series which comprise the NASCAR AutoZone Elite Division.

Hoosier Racing Tire is the official tire of the NASCAR AutoZone Elite
Division in 2004 and will award 32 tires to eligible car owners at each
series event. Hoosier will also award two tires to the highest eligible
Rookie-of-the-Year candidate's car owner.

MOVING UP
Danny Burson of Albuquerque, NM moved closer to the NASCAR Top-10 with a
fifth place performance at Cajon Speedway April 3. Burson sits 13th in the
overall point standings, 194 points behind Pettit. .

PAGE FROM THE PAST
Return to 1990 at Stockton 99 Speedway. It was May 12, 1990 when Troy Beebe
picked up the win in race number four of 18 that season. Beebe edged Loren
Kelley, Ron Hornaday Jr., Ken Boyd, and Ross Trent en route to .36 seconds
margin of victory. Bryan Germone was the top finishing rookie with a 16th
place effort. Steve Johnson set the qualifying record for the series with a
record that still holds to this day. Johnson toured the ¼-mile in 13.232
seconds at 68.017 mph. The race took 32 minutes and 27 seconds to complete,
and Hornaday left with 77 point advantage in the point standings.